Combination chimney closure and damper



March 22, 1955 H. E. RAINEY COMBINATION CHIMNEY CLOSURE AND DAMPER Filed D80. 2]. 1951 INVg'NTOR.

United States Patent COMBINATION CHIMNEY CLOSURE AND DAMPER Hartley E. Rainey, Gurneville, Calif.

Application December 21, 1951, Serial No. 262,863

3 Claims. (Cl. 98-59) This invention relates to improvements in chimney dampers, and more particularly to a combination damper and closure for installation on the top of a chimney.

The present invention provides a novel combination damper and closure which is adapted for installation on the top of a fireplace chimney. In its preferred form my invention comprises a rigid open frame which is adapted to rest on the top of a chimney, the said frame having depending flanges fitting inside the chirnney opening for normally preventing the displacement of the frame by strong air currents. Pivotally supported on the frame is a combination damper plate and water shedding closure which is arranged for adjustment by a cable or chain extending downwardly through the chimney to a convenient position at the fireplace opening. The damper plate is maintained in an open or partially open position by a downward pressure applied to the cable or chain, and novel fastening means mounted at the fireplace opening is adapted to hold the cable or chain under tension.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a novel combination chimney damper and closure of the kind characterized which in one of its adjusted positions is adapted to operate as a complete closure to prevent rain or snow from entering the chimney opening, and which is also adapted for adjustment to various other positions to control the upward draft through the chimney.

Other and further objects of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art or will be specifically pointed out in the description to follow. It is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is intended for illustration purposes only and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my combination damper and chimney closure, showing it mounted on a chimney top and in a closed position;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the combination closure and damper, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the device;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a composite enlarged perspective view of portions of the frame and damper plate, showing the pivot means about which the damper plate may swing upwardly and downwardly;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the means employed 1n holding the chain or cable under tension when the damper plate is adjusted to an open position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the damper plate, as viewed from below.

Referring to the drawings a chimney A of conventional construction and form is shown extending upwardly from a fireplace B in the usual manner. Resting on the top of the chimney is a rigid frame 1 of somewhat rectangular shape, having depending flange portions 2 extending downwardly inside the chimney. The flange portions 2 are preferably constructed and arranged to fit snugly against the inner sides of the chimney opening, thereby normally preventing the lateral displacement of the frame with respect to the chimney top.

The frame 1 is formed with a substantially rectangular upstanding rib 3 which comprises substantially parallel end portions 3a, 3a, and substantially parallel front and rear portions 3b and 3c, the side portions being joined at their ends to the ends of the said front and rear rib portions. The rear portion 30 of the substantially rectangular upstanding rib 3 extends considerably higher than the front portion 3b, and the end portions 3a, 3a gradually increase in height from points where they join the front portion. The end portions 3a, 3a of the upstanding rib 3, at corresponding points therein between the longitudinal axis or center line of the frame 1 and the rear rib portion 30, is formed with open grooves which form bearings 4 within which two depending end pivot members 5 of a damper plate 6 pivotally fit. The pivot members 5 are positioned rearwardly of the central longitudinal center line of the damper plate 6, and with a preponderance of the weight of the damper plate being distributed forwardly of the said pivot members, the force of gravity tends to hold the said damper plate in a closed inclined position. The damper plate 6 forms a closure for the openings in the frame 1 and the chimney, as well as a damper for the control of the upward draft through the chimney. The damper plate 6 is cut away at its opposite ends just rearwardly of the pivot members 5 to provide a rear portion 6a of decreased length which is adapted to engage with the underneath side of a continuous inwardly protruding flange 7 formed on the upper ends of the rear rib portion 30 and those parts of the end portions 3a, 3a located rearwardly of the bearings 4. When the damper plates 6 is closed the forward portion 6b thereof is adapted to rest on those parts of the end rib portions 3a, 3a of the upstanding rib 3 which extend forwardly of the bearings 4 and also on the front rib portion 3b. When the damper plate 6 is in an inclined closed portion, precipitation in the form of rain or melted snow, will flow downwardly over the inwardly protruding flange 7 and the damper plate without entering the chimney opening. The underneath surface of the damper plate 6 is substantially flat except for a continuous marginal groove or indentation 60 at the edges of the forward portion 6b within which the upper ends of the front rib portion 3b and parts of the end rib portions 3a, 3a are adapted to fit when the damper plate is closed. it is to be noted that the underneath surface of the inwardly protruding flange 7 is positioned in an inclined plane which is somewhat higher than an inclined plane extending along the upwardly disposed exposed ends of the end rib portions 3a, 3a, thereby making it possible for the damper plate when closed to snugly fit against the said underneath surface of the inwardly protruding flanges and also against the exposed upper ends of the said end rib portions.

The rear sides of the grooves or bearings 4, 4 are arranged to intercept the ends of raised ridges 6d provided at the lateral side edges of the damper plate 6 as the latter is swung rearwardly to an inclined open position as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 3, thereby preventing the further rearward movement of the damper plate.

A chain 8 or the like secured to a depending flange 9 on the rear portion 6a of the damper plate 6 extends downwardly through the chimney to the fireplace opening beneath. The lower end of the chain is adapted to be releasably anchored and adjustably held by suitable means at the front Wall of the fireplace opening B by an arrangement such as that now to be described. A clamp bar 10 having an upturned forward end is secured by a set screw 11 to an angle iron C commonly used as a front support for certain bricks of the fireplace. The set screw 11 is threaded through a threaded hole in an upstanding flange 12 provided on the clamp bar 10. The rear end portion of the clamp bar 10 is formed with a key hole shaped opening 13 which is of such size and shape that the chain 8 may be freely adjusted up or down in its larger end. The chain when shifted rearwardly into the restricted end of the opening 13 will be prevented from being pulled upwardly through the said opening, but when the said chain is shifted into the large end of the said opening it will then be free to move upwardly or downwardly in accordance with the desired adjustment of the damper plate 6.

The damper plate 6 may be pivotally moved to an open position by pulling downwardly on the chain, and its closing is effected by releasing the chain so as to permit the force of gravity to cause the downward movement of the front end portion 6b and the upward movement of the rear portion 6a of the said damper plate. damper plate may be held in a partially or fully open position by maintaining a downward tension on the chain after the desired adiustment has been made, and this is accomplished by shifting the proper link of the chain 8 rearwardly into the restricted end of the key hole shaped opening 13 of the clamp bar and there locking the said link against upward movement.

It is to be understood that the frame and damper plate may assume various forms and shapes, depending on the particular shape and size of the chimney with which the device is used.

What I claim is:

1. In a combination damper and closure for the top of a chimney, an open frame of substantially rectangular shape adapted to be supported on the top of a fireplace chimney and having a depending flange extending downwardly into the chimney opening and arranged in contacting relation with the chimney walls, an upstanding substantially rectangular shaped rib secured to the frame. the said rib having opposed end portions and opposed front and rear portions, the end portions having similarly inclined upper surfaces extending from the front portion to the rear portion, the said end portions having similarly positioned bearing openings in its end portions at points adjacent the rear portion, the said rib having an inwardly protruding flange on the upper end of its end and rear portions extending continuously from one bearing opening to the other, a pivoted substantially rectangular damper plate adapted to close and control the opening in the frame and having depending pivot members fitting in the bearing openings of the end portions of the upstanding rib, the said damper plate in its closed position having rear portions engaging with the underneath surface of the flange and forward portions resting on that part of the rib located forwardly of the bearing openmgs.

2. In a combination damper and closure for the top of a chimney, an open frame adapted to be supported on a chimney top and having a depending flange extending downwardly into the chimney opening and arranged in The contacting relationship with the chimney walls, an upstanding continuous rib secured to the frame, the said rib having its upper edges lying in an inclined plane and the said rib having an inwardly protruding flange at its rear side extending in a plane above the upper edge of the rib, a damper plate pivotally mounted on the upstanding rib and adapted to close the opening in the frame, the said damper plate in its closed position being inclined and engaging with the underneath surface of the flange and the top edge of the rib, and control means connected to the damper plate and extending downwardly through the fireplace opening.

3. In a combination damper and closure for the top of a chimney, an open frame adapted to be supported on a chimney top and having a depending flange extending downwardly into the chimney opening and arranged in contacting relationship with the chimney walls, an upstanding rib secured to the frame, the said rib having its upper edges lying in an inclined plane, bearing means in the opposite sides of the rib, the said bearing means being positioned rearwardly of the longitudinal axis of the frame, a damper plate adapted to close the opening in the frame, the said damper plate in its closed position being in an inclined position resting on the rib, the said damper plate having pivot members supported in the hearing means, the pivot members being positioned rearwardly of the central axis of the damper plate, whereby the preponderance of the weight of the damper plate is positioned forwardly of the pivot members, and depending control means attached to the damper plate at a point rearwardly of the pivot members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,386 Burrows Oct. 22, 1889 1,077,847 McLane et a1. Nov. 4, 1913 1,654,855 Bastien Jan. 3, 1928 1,862,456 Barrows June 7, 1932 2,048,216 Parker et a1. July 21, 1936 2,311,915 Tummel Feb. 23, 1943 

